General Requirements

(1) All private agencies placing children or pregnant women in temporary foster homes or in other foster care placement, placing children for adoption or conducting adoptive home studies shall be specifically licensed to exercise this function by the Department. (2) The issuance and continuation of a license shall depend upon adherence to these standards. (3) All public agencies placing children or pregnant women in temporary foster homes or in other foster care placement, placing children for adoption or conducting adoptive home studies, shall be specifically approved to exercise this function by the Department. Approval shall depend upon adherence to these standards. (4) Agencies conducting independent living programs which serve children under the age of seventeen in a community based or off-campus setting shall be licensed as child-placing agencies. (5) A child-placing agency shall maintain confidentiality in accord with the ethics of the social work profession. The agency shall act in the best interest of the client insofar as this does not violate the social responsibility of the agency for the protection of the community. All records must be maintained in a fire resistant, locked file. (6) All child-placing agencies must have written policies and procedures for reporting incidents of abuse or neglect of children. These policies should clearly set forth the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved in both the reporting and investigative process. STANDARDS FOR CHILD-PLACING AGENCIES CHAPTER 0250-04-09 (7) A child-placing agency shall keep accurate statistical records which give the complete scope of the work of the agency. (8) Reports shall be made to the Department as follows: (a) Monthly and annual statistical reports shall be completed on forms provided by the Department. (b) Change in location shall be reported at or prior to time of change. (c) Death, or life-threatening injury to any child in care of the agency shall be reported immediately. (d) Reports related to brutality, abuse, neglect, or child sexual abuse. (e) Chapter I Report on School Age Children (5 to 17, inclusive) in Foster Family Care, Supported by Public Funds.